FURTHER STRUCTURAL STUDIES ON THE PETROFORMYNES

Petroformynes are unusual metabolites contained in the Mediterranean sponge Petrosia ficiformis. The structure and absolute stereochemistry of the most abundant of these compounds, which display long unbranched alkyl chains, have only recently been rigorously proven. The structures of twelve minor compounds are now reported, providing a better understanding of the chemistry of P. ficiformis. In addition, complete spectroscopic characterization of eleven partial structures (a-k) frequently contained in P. ficiformis metabolites is provided as an aid to future structure elucidation among compounds of this type.